Closure for openings in receptacles subjected to pressure



CLOSURE FOR OPENINGS IN RECEPTACLES SUBJECTED T0 PRESSURE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-3, I918.

1,432,475,, Patented m. m, 1922.

HAtZAY/t rarest orator; I

HUGH LORD, 01F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOSURE FOR OPENTNGS IN RECEPTAGLES SUBJECTED T PRESSURE.

Application tiled. August 8,1918. Serial No. 248,843.

' To all whom it may oowwem:

Be it known that I, HUGH C. LORD, a c1t1-' zen of the United States, residing at Erie,

in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Closures for Openings in Receptacles Subj the following is a specification.

This invention relates to closures for openings in receptacles subjected to pressure-and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as willbe hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

The closure is particularly adapted for openings in headers for water tube boilers.

The invention is illustrated in the accomparrying drawings as follows Fig. 1 shows a section on the line 11 in Fig. 2 of a portion of a header.

Fig. 2 an elevation of the outer header plate.

Fig. 3 a section on the line 33 in Fig. 4 showing an alternative construction. 1

Fig. 4 an elevation from the insideof the plate shown in Fig. 3. v

1 marks the outer plate of a-header 1 It is provided with an opening 2 opposite a tube 2 and of a size to permit the removal of the tube 2 through the opening. it will beund'erstood that there are many of such openings in the ordinary header. A closure plate 3 is provided for the opening. It is formed of sheet steel and in the preferred construction is initially fiat having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the opening 2. It is forced into the opening by initial pressure at its center dishing the plate so as to contract its edges to the size of the opening. The plate is then thrust into the opening and released, its tension ex.-

. panding its edges into engagement with the walls of the opening. Ordinarily the edges 4 will present a line contact with the/walls of the opening and the material of the plate 3 is preferably harder than the plate lso that under pressure the latel is slightly indented assuring a compliete closure. With added pressure on the plate 3 from within its engagement withthe walls of the opening is increased, thus preventing the removal by reason of pressure. When it is desired to remove the plate it is simply driven through.

In the alternative construction the opening 2 is provided with a shoulder 2 and the plate 3 is initially curved to the position shown in dash lines. In putting it 1n place ected to Pressure, of which.

it has an initial diameter permitting its insertion in the opening against the shoulder 2 flll(1 th8l1 by pressure at the center the plate is sprung through the opening, the movement being progressive, the." center springing in and passing a line between the shoulders prior to the-elimination ofthe outer curvature of the disc near the edges. After the disc springs past the center it tends to return to its outer position and thus expands into engagement with the walls of the opening.

If desired pressure may be exerted against the inner face of the plate after it is in place to expand it forcibly into the walls of the plate ,1.

By increasing the arch, or dish, of the closure plate the expanding force against the walls of the opening in the plate 1 is decreased when the receptacle is under pressure. On the other hand the engagement between the edges of the closure plate and the walls of the opening is decreased. The arch should, therefore, not be carried to a point endangering the safe engagement of the edges with the walls of the openin On the other hand it should be carried su ciently to prevent the expansion of the edges by indentation a suficient distance to eliminate the arch or dish of the plate and also sufficiently to assure a quite pronounced arch in its final position. By reason of the arched structure ordinaril the closure plate may be made somewhat t inner than the plate 1. This permits of its'taking on the archwith less stress of metal than if the thickness were greater. On the other hand ordinarily in the span of the opening such a plate so arched has sufficient strength to correspond to the strength of the plate 1.

What I claim as new is r 1. In a closure for receptacles subjected to pressure, the combination of a metallic plate with a circular opening therethrough with cylindrical walls therein; and a metal io closure disc having its edges in sealing engagement with the c lindrical walls of the opening and; dishe inwardly, the disc being of material adapted to indent the walls of the opening and under tension tending to expand its edges into securing engagement in seeling engag einent with the wells of the opemng and dished inwardly, the surface of the edge ofthe disc being out of alinement 3; In a' boiler header, the combination of a metallic tube plate; a; metallic outeit plate halving an openi plate having its. edges in securing-Land sealing engagement with-the walls of the openin the outer plate and dishedinwardly. 15 whereof I have hereunto set HUGH o none, I

n testimony my hand.

in elineinent with thelo opening of the tu e plate; and a metallic closure disc for the-opening in the outer 

